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The long running saga of the development at Merchants Quay/ Cornmarket North and West in Newry continues, with a new application for planning permission being submitted for a section of the site. For many years the site which the former Goss's car showroom forms a large part of, has lain vacant.
An original application by Kerr Property Holdings was put forward for the site as 'Pearces Gate' in March 2020 and it finally received planning permission in November 2022. This new application is essentially an amendment to the original plan that was passed for 73 one and two bedroom apartments (private and social), office space and commercial/ retail space and a coffee bar in the listed building on the site.
The latest application in the name of Parkgate Developments focuses on 48-54 Merchants Quay - the Merchants Quay/ Cornmarket north corner of the site, and changes the listed building use to 2 town houses.
The listed building was seriously damaged by fire in June 2025. This application submitted September 2026 is for the provision of a "mixed-use development comprising the retention, refurbishment, alterations to and change of use of the Listed Building (47 Merchant’s Quay) for 2 no. townhouses and change of use of 46 Merchant’s Quay for 1 no. ground floor office with 2 no. apartments above, plus the erection of 24 no. additional residential units in a mix of apartments and duplex apartments (to give 26no. residential units in total), plus 2 no. retail units with car parking, communal amenity space, landscaping, bin and cycle stores and associated site works". Listed building consent is again part of the application.
Essentially what all that means is that thanks to the new proposals the overall project would be for 76 housing units and 5 retail units. (an additional 3 housing units from original application). In summary offices from the existing planning approval will be replaced with additional dwellings and retail units.
